FireDrake (21 page)

“Don’t worry. After a few minutes, we won’t be swimming.” Drake’s devilish grin communicated more than his words.

After a long, pleasurable “swim”, the trio dressed and ate a skimpy breakfast. The sun was strong in the eastern sky when Drake called the gryphons’ names. It was time to find Wil.

Feathery wings made rustling sounds as the gryphons flew into view a few minutes later. They landed with their padded back feet first, then sat, perched upright.

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“It iss good to ssee you all sso happy. Congratulationss on your joining,” Herorthor said.

“Thank you,” Drake answered. “We are ready to see our prince. Will you take us to him?”

“We will,” Llydiss replied. “Follow uss.”

The gryphons took to the air and waited, circling, while they mounted and the dragons leapt into the sky after them. They set out across the ocean, making for some distant point only the gryphons knew.

“I hope this isn’t some kind of trap,”
Mace said in the privacy of their joined minds.

“Gryphons are noble creatures. I don’t think we’re in any trouble trusting them, but
keep your eyes open.”
Drake held Krysta in his arms this morning as she flew with him for the first time.

After an hour of flying, Drake realized the dragons were having a hard time of it.

The air had thickened with magic that swirled in a miasma of color and shadow around them.

“What is this?”
Krysta asked hesitantly.

“Magic,”
Herothror replied.
“The remnants of powerful time magic, to be precise.

We cross over into the island’s realm now. Brace yourselves.”

The entire party felt a jolt as the air currents changed suddenly. A moment ago it had been early morning. Judging by the sun’s position, it was now early evening. The red sun sank on the horizon as the cloud of magic cleared. The island rose in the distance, tall spires of rock and sandy beach. The dragons surged forward with a last effort to reach land, though all the riders knew they were tired.

They landed minutes later, and the humans dismounted quickly to give the dragons a break. Whatever they had flown through had taken all their strength and concentration.

Jenet and Nellin were both panting as they sat back on their haunches.

A tall figure awaited them on the beach. He was dressed in black leather, his stance welcoming and his green eyes sparkling in the late sun.

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“Jenet!” The young man strode forward to meet them, all smiles. “Don’t you recognize me?”

“We’ve come for Prince William.” Drake said carefully, his suspicion rising. The man walked confidently and he looked eerily like Roland had as a man at the brink of full adulthood. The swagger was the same, the hair, the build of a warrior, and those royal green eyes.

“I am William.” The stranger stopped right in front of Jenet, seeking her out. “Don’t you know me, milady? I know it’s been a few years, but I can’t have changed that much.”

“Years?” Krysta asked. “The prince was kidnapped only days ago. We’ve been on his trail since the morning after his abduction.”

“Are the others all right? Declan and Ren wouldn’t let me go without a fight, bless their hearts.” The familiar green eyes clouded with concern. “Arlis and Lilla were hurt too, I remember, but Gryffid assured me they survived.”

“We do not know their fate, but Arlis and my father made it back to the castle to raise the alarm,” Drake said. “They very nearly didn’t make it and when I left, they were both still confined to their quarters and would be for many days.”

“Your father?” The man switched his attention to Drake, surveying him with narrowed eyes. “Then you’re Drake. You finally came back for Jenet? That’s really great.” A smile creased his face and a dimple appeared that made the younger man look just like Nico had at that age. Drake suspected the magic of the island had done something to the boy who was now a man.

“Jenet, my love, is this William?”

Jenet was suspiciously silent as she reached down to lick the man’s cheek. Dragons often had the taste and scent of other dragons they knew. Being of the royal line, William was half-dragon, so if this strange young man was indeed the missing prince, Jenet would be able to say for certain.

Jenet retracted her tongue, blinking slowly as she considered. Shock didn’t show well on draconic faces, but Drake knew every facet of her behavior. She was surprised.

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“William? How can this be?”
Jenet lowered her head to eye the man who somehow was the object of their quest. He reached up familiarly and rubbed her eye ridges, causing Drake to start in surprise. No one touched a dragon they did not know unless invited, yet this man seemed to know just what Jenet liked and she did not object.

“It’s been five long years since I’ve seen you, milady. I’ve missed you.”

Drake was even more surprised when the man threw his arms around Jenet’s neck and hugged her close. That she allowed such treatment spoke volumes about her certainty that this was indeed, the prince they had been searching for.

“I don’t understand this,” Krysta said.

“Ah, but you will. In good time.” A strange voice interrupted and everyone looked up to see a tall man in a long coat standing on the rise of a sand dune, watching them. His voice carried on the evening wind, resonating through the air.

“Who are you?” Krysta moved in front, her curious nature warring with her upset at these strange circumstances. Drake could see the telltale tapping of her fingers against her thigh. She was uncomfortable with these developments—as were they all, if truth be told.

“Gryffid, please save the dramatics,” the older version of William said with a sigh.

“They are probably very tired after their journey.”

The other man nodded. “No doubt you are right. Come, let us repair to the hall.

We’ll have refreshment and explanations there.”

This was not quite the reception they had expected. Drake looked around and realized the gryphons had winged off elsewhere, leaving just the party from Draconia with these two strange men. The one on the dune turned abruptly and disappeared from sight behind the hill. The other man stepped away from Jenet and followed after, waving to them to catch up.

“What do you think?”
Drake silently asked all four of his companions as they started after the two men.

“I think very strange magic is afoot on this island,”
Mace said with suspicion lacing his tone.
“We should be cautious.”

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“Undoubtedly
,
”
Drake agreed.
“But do you think that young man could really be
Prince William?”

“It is William. Or at least, it tastes like Wil,”
Jenet said with confusion.

“His scent is that of Prince William,”
Nellin put in,
“and he has the looks of his
brothers, and the power. That man is half-dragon. Of that I have little doubt.”

They crested the dune and saw a lovely old manor house, complete with a large, enclosed courtyard, outbuildings for animals and workers, what looked to be a garrison, and a very large tower rising from the main building. It was lovely, in a very eclectic sort of way, and it looked almost ancient in design, though very well preserved.

“That looks like a wizard’s keep.”
Krysta spoke the thought that passed through all of their minds.

“Very good
,
”
came a strange voice, strong in all of their minds.
“It is in fact, my
keep.”

“That man!” Krysta held her head, outraged at the intrusion. “A wizard?”

Drake thought about it. “I see little other plausible explanation.”

“But they’re all dead!” Krysta whispered emphatically.

“Or exiled
,
”
the man’s voice came to them again, making it clear he could listen in on any sort of conversation they might have while in his domain. That was just unnatural.

Nobody had skills like that…unless…

“William called him Gryffid,” Mace reminded them in his quiet way.

“Sweet Mother of All!” Krysta kept moving, but her face was a mirror of shock.

“The wizard Gryffid created the gryphons.”

“And what better place for me to live than Gryphon Isle? Be at ease, my new friends.

My days of warring are over. At least for the moment.”

They followed in silence, both weary from the journey and unwilling to let even more of their conversation be overheard. So far, Drake thought, the wizard—if he were to be believed—didn’t seem hostile. Drake would wait and see.

He made note of every facet of his surroundings as they made their way to the hall.

He noted his companions doing the same, looking around at the ancient stone battlements 150

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and noting the signs of gryphons everywhere. The place was teeming with them. Drake could count dozens in the distance, flying here and there around other parts of the large, rocky island. Several watched their progress from the rooftops and spires of the keep, their piercing eyes following the party’s every move. Jenet’s wings twitched in agitation and Drake put a steadying hand on her shoulder as he walked beside her.

Dragons and gryphons were well matched since their magic mostly cancelled each other out. Outnumbered as they were, the dragons were definitely at a disadvantage simply due to numbers should these creatures turn hostile.

Jenet stopped just before the doorway when William paused.

“Do you not go in?”
she asked him directly.

The man purported to be William shook his head. “I have a bit more to do outdoors while Gryffid explains everything.”

“Then may I stay with you?”
she asked, her tone both confused and hopeful. It hurt Drake’s heart to hear her uncertainty. She loved William like a son—or perhaps a little brother. If this man was really the William she had lost only days before, Drake could understand her dismay.

Gryffid motioned offhandedly. “Certainly, stay and satisfy yourself that he is indeed William. I know this is a lot to take in all at once. For you, only a few days have passed.”

“Do you mind, Drake?”
Jenet blinked hopeful eyes at him.

“Of course not, sweetheart.” He rubbed her scales fondly. “Stay and talk with…uh…William.”

“I’ll stay outside with my lady
,
”
Nellin declared and Drake wasn’t surprised. The young male dragon would protect his mate. Always.

Drake turned, leaving them outside with the puzzling young man, and followed the wizard, Krysta and Mace indoors. He wasn’t too surprised to see the doors and hallways of the keep were large enough for even dragons to navigate. It was clear the gryphons had the run of the place and in fact, the two who had escorted them to the island were waiting inside the great hall when the Draconian party entered.

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Herorthor and Llydiss sat near a huge fireplace that was centered along one great stone wall. A large table stood before it, with several richly padded chairs. The entire place had a feeling of antiquity about it, but looked comfortable enough. Gryffid went directly to one wall covered completely in book cases. He pulled a large folio from one of the shelves and turned back to the group, standing very near the large table.

“Please, seat yourselves. I know you are weary from the crossing, but we have much to discuss.” He opened the folio and sorted through a number of ancient looking scrolls before setting two aside while they took seats around the large table.

“I have here something for you to read, Drake.”

“How do you know my name?”

The wizard smiled coyly. “It is much more than your name, boy, it’s what you are.”

Drake sighed. Apparently it was true that wizards liked to speak in riddles. He tried to school himself to patience while the old man related his tale in his way.

“Draneth, Draco and the others. I knew them all, once upon a time, and called several friend. But then Skir started his rumblings and allied with other malcontents.

They wanted war, so we gave it to them, but it was you—the sons and daughters of man—who suffered most. Then we hit upon the idea of creating guardians. Powerful beings who could fight to protect the human race from our folly.” He gestured toward the two gryphons lounging by the fire. “Draco was able to conjure little beings of fire that would flit around like birds, trailing flame from their wings and tail. They were formidable but lacked substance. That’s when Dranneth got the idea for dragons, and you know the result of that experiment.”

“So what has this to do with us?” Krysta asked.

“Patience, young lady. It will all come clear in time.” Gryffid pushed one of the scrolls across the smooth tabletop toward Drake. “Perhaps this will help. Read it aloud, if you don’t mind, young Drake.”

Drake unrolled the ancient thing carefully, glad to see the writing was legible. He looked at his companions with a raised brow, then began reading, growing more concerned as he puzzled through the words.

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“If you read this, you have at last found your destiny, my son, and dark days threaten the lands once more. Seek me in the forgotten places. Find me in flame. Hold fast against the frost and use what I have bequeathed as best you may. Do not squander your power, get of Draco. But use it as your forefathers once did. Let the dragons be your guide and protect them, sons and daughters of the flame made flesh.”

It was signed,
Draco, Wizard of Fire
. After that followed a few stanzas of mismatched verse, much like what the gryphons had quoted the day before.

Burn bright fire light

Spark to blaze the dangerous gaze

Ember’s glow, your inferno